ASK NANA

Dear Nana,

My In-laws have a pool and my toddler (almost 3 years old) loves to go swimming. He has never been afraid of the water, even as a baby and he will just jump right in. I’m increasingly worried about his safety around the pool, as he seems to be a little Houdini these days! Do you have any suggestions about how to make him understand the dangers? I don’t want him to end up afraid of the water.

- Waterlogged Mom

Dear Waterlogged Mom,

I so appreciate this question and you are right to be concerned about water safety. Drowning is the single leading cause of injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4 and kills almost 1,000 children per year.  The Zero To Three Organization collects data that shows most drownings in kids 4 and under happen in home swimming pools. 27% of drownings among those took place at the home of a friend, relative, or neighbor. 70% of the children were not expected to be at the pool, and 46% of the children were last seen in the house –no one realized they’d gotten out.

We know toddlers have ninja escape skills—they get very focused on what they want, can be very quiet when they want to be, and most have recently acquired doorknob turning skills. The fact is that there is simply no replacement for adult supervision and vigilance when young children are near a pool or other body of water, ESPECIALLY for toddlers whose ability to wait is very dependent on their mood and excitement. I hear all the time, “Can’t they wait just two minutes? Just two minutes!” The simple, and safest answer is, “no, they can’t.”

“There is simply no replacement for adult supervision and vigilance when young children are near a pool”

One other element that many of us forget is that these days most children have never been in water without a “floaty” strapped on. So they have no experience of sinking into the water – they automatically float! These are great tools but it does complicate things when trying to get across the concept of water danger to a young child.

So what do we do? When using the pool, plan to supervise young children in the water constantly and within arms-reach. That means an adult needs to be in the water with them. And if you need to take a restroom break or go in the house, your child goes with you. If you can, get everyone ready for the water prior to sitting poolside, especially if you have more than one child. This isn’t always possible, so figure out a plan for corralling one child as you put sunscreen on the other, for example. I know one mom who has her children sit with one foot looped through her tote bag – sort of anchored next to her. Your dialogue before, during and after swimming should include lots of statements about safety. “This is so fun. I’m so proud of you for waiting for me to be ready to go in with you.” Over and over and over again – make statements of being in the water with an adult.

If they haven’t already, ask your in-laws to install a fence around the pool, with a locking gate. When not swimming, do not play around or have toys around the pool that will attract your child. Consider alarms on the pool fence gate, the house doors and pool facing windows. Install water alarms on the pool itself. These alarms detect splashes or waves in the pool. Pool covers should cover the entire pool securely enough that a child can't slip under them. Make sure no standing water collects on top—children can drown in less than 2 inches of water. Power-operated covers are often the safest and easiest to use. Remember: Floating solar and winter covers are not safety covers and can actually increase drowning risk. Because a floating cover makes the pool surface appear solid, a small child might try to retrieve a ball or other light toy that landed on it and quickly slip underneath—often trapped and hidden from view. These types of covers should be removed from an unfenced pool whenever a child is in the vicinity. Hot tub covers should have latches and locks.

Other things to Consider:

Swim lessons. The AAP recommends swim lessons as a layer of protection against drowning that can begin for many children starting at age 1. 

CPR training. Parents, caregivers, and pool owners should know CPR and how to get emergency help. Keep equipment approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, such as life preservers and life jackets at poolside.

Check the water first. If a child is missing, look for them in the pool or spa FIRST. It doesn’t matter if you don’t think they can get out there –check!

Finally – don’t be afraid to speak up about your safety concerns. Sometimes we don’t want to look like we are overly anxious or we’ve been made in the past to feel like we shouldn’t worry so much…so we fail to have these really important discussions. Water play is a big part of summer fun and advanced planning will benefit everyone.

— Nana

Ask Nana is published with permission. ©2021, M. Rogers, All right reserved

Worried about your child’s development? Visit the CDC’s Learn the Signs, Act Early to learn about important developmental milestones your child should be reaching at their age. You can also download their free Milestone Tracker App, as well as find out how and where to get help if you have any concerns. Remember, you do NOT need a referral from a doctor to receive help!